The Old Church Gathered at Rahab’s House

The Old Church gathered at Rahab’s House (Joshua 2:15-24)

1/15/2014 ITCS Morning prayer meeting

5So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”

17Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”

So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

22When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”

Introduction:

According to the sermon of Stephen, the family of Rahab should be the church.

“He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.“ (Act 7:38) Why? Because they have some proofs that the church should possess in them, we can call for the church of the Lord in the Old Testament.

What are the proofs of the true church?

First, they have the fear of God.

Verse 18 says “unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house.” Do you know the fear of God in the passage? Through Rahab their family were gathered at her house with the fear of the Lord, Jehovah. Why did they gathered in the one house? Because they wanted to be saved out of the judgement of God at Jericho., although they did not experience the grace of Lord’s power but by believing the promise of spies her house members believe on the Jehovah in the Od Testament. They had the fear of the Word of God and affection of the Lord of Israel. Just this is the church that the power of hades cannot overcome any miserable situation.

True church should have the assurance of the fear of the Lord and affection of the Lord. Ps chapter 2:11-12 points that two element, fear and love, trembling and kissing are united in his heart. Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

This is the faith, Although the Rehab’s family lived in the Old Testament day before Christ’s first coming, they possessed the life through accepting the Word of God unconditionally in their heart. This was the work of Holy Spirit. This work have been happened continuously in the world.

Our important mission shall be to eastablish the church of Christ. I heard of the information out of board chairman pastor Kim Sang Duck, at the long time ago, his church established the several church buildings at Mexico in south America. He had worshipped at that churches. When they had visited at the church building again, their buildings was destroyed gradually because the neighbors stolen their building. Finally Because they did not take care of them., he should transfer their churches to the mexico presbytery. Then he found that the church need the faithful workers. And he choose mission field at Cambodia. Then he confessed that he realized that the importance of seminary to take care of the church. It is the main motive that our school had begun in Cambodia. The church is not the building but the people, Christians. I shall establish my church on you, every Christian already is church. We have to focus on it. Do you agree with me?

So whenever, wherever we go and stay in Cambodia, we can build the church by proclaiming and teaching the Word of God. Moreover we can help to grow up in the sound doctrine by praying and preaching the Scripture faithfully. Please do not follow the emotion phenomena, but the truth. That important thing comes out of the fear of God.

Especially the Cambodian church should learn the true trembling in their life before living God. Who is God of the Scripture? When we devote ourselves to him, we can take living hope in the family, in the country and in our future.

Second, as they hanged their neck on the promise of salvation, we should depend on the promise of God.

Verse 18 says the Lord proposed a important mark, screact cord on the wall.18Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. A certain man claimed it is the blood of Jesus Christ because it is secret color. Can you accept the interpretation? Actually, we cannot find any Scripture. But the bronze snake in the wildernees is the Jesus Christ for Jesus interpreted it “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life “( Jn3:14-15) Although we cannot say it is the death of Christ, obviously the family of Rahab hanged their neck on this mark. So we can apply to the promise of salvation that the Lord commands. It is a mark of their salvation. The promise is very important.

Rahab’s family was not saved automatically but they should possess the fear of God. If they had no the fear of God, they shall not determine their refuse against the king of Jericho. And also they devoted themselves to the promise.

This is the same line of our salvation. Do you assure the salvation in your heart? How? Can you reveal your eternal life to the people? How? Our answer shall be believe in the promise of the Scripture. Jn 5:24 says “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” Because we believe the promise we assure that we are saved out of all miserable sin and curse. This is Rahab and her family ‘s salvation

So I claim that before we believe unconditional commitment to the promise we cannot know the eternal life in our life. So we should believe the Word of God unconditionally. This is the reformed faith. Do you believe in it? When we believe in it, we can know. If we can know it, we did not believe in the promise.

Third, they obeyed the direction wholeheartedly in the miserable condition. Think of that. Suddenly the city was destroyed by the power of God. the situation is very demolished state. Then they did not go out, only they stayed in the house as trusting the promise of God. it is the church. So only the church has the eternal life, the forgiveness and the power of peace.

Conclusion:

Today, we start the new semester in the grace of God as a Christian , as the church and as a servant of God for God’s calling . Remember that we are the church that living God is working . In this semester we should learn the fear of God. And also we have to follow the lead of our king. So we believe that the authority of hades can not overcome our ministry and our passion for Christ. Lift up your goal to the higher goal. And try to challenge to arrive on it. God prepare every thing in us.

Study as the church of Rahab, I assure that our God shall help you in your school life.